By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    ACOs expanding
    ACOs Rapidly Expanding Across States
    May 2, 2014
    Nursing Experts Release Guiding Principles for Patient Engagement
    July 20, 2012
    ACO infographic
    A Closer Look at Accountable Care Organizations [INFOGRAPHIC]
    June 5, 2014
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Fall Prevention: How To Keep An Elderly Parent Safe In Their Home
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Fall Prevention: How To Keep An Elderly Parent Safe In Their Home
SpecialtiesWellness

Fall Prevention: How To Keep An Elderly Parent Safe In Their Home

James Wilson
James Wilson
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

  Falls are the number one cause of fatal injuries in seniors. One out of three senior citizen falls every year. About 46 percent of men are more likely to die from falls, and 58 percent of women are more likely to experience non-fatal injury from falls than men. A fall injury is a serious concern as it’s the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, nonfatal injuries, hospital trauma admissions, and even death. When an adult age 65 or older falls, it’s imperative to call for medical attention immediately or within the hour. Otherwise, they may not be able to live independently due to the injuries incurred. If seniors fall and become stuck in an uncomfortable position for several hours, they are likely to be hospitalized. Some of them may not be able to recover immediately. Senior citizens who don’t get medical attention after 12-17 hours may develop serious health conditions such as dehydration, pneumonia, pressure sores and hypothermia.

Contents
The Causes of Falls in SeniorsPoor balance, weak muscles, and reflexesVision problemsSteps to Fall Proof a HomeHere are a few things you can do:FlooringWhat to do:LightingWhat to do:Additional tips to fall-proof a homeAn Active Lifestyle Helps

The Causes of Falls in Seniors

Several factors contribute to a fall. One primary cause is the physical environment at home. Clutter, slippery surfaces, uneven flooring, loose rugs and other objects, unstable furniture or poor lighting are risk factors. Other conditions that contribute to a fall include:

Poor balance, weak muscles, and reflexes

Physical weakness is common in seniors — especially when they don’t exercise — which may lead to difficulty performing daily activities. As they age, they also lose or weaken their coordination or other nervous system functions that make it likely for them to fall. Those who have suffered a stroke are also likely to fall.

Vision problems

Vision-related problems such as glaucoma or cataracts can contribute to a fall. It’s difficult to move around the house when you can’t see clearly or find it hard to adjust to the lighting. Medical conditions such as dementia, arthritis, diabetes, foot disorders, vertigo, thyroid problems and anemia are risk factors too. When your loved ones have these conditions, make sure you take extra precaution to keep them safe.

More Read

physical and mental wellbeing
Physical And Mental Wellbeing: 5 Life-Changing Ways To Balance Both
Do Health Insurance Providers Pay for Car Accident Injury?
How COVID-19 Impacted The Dental Industry As A Whole
Potential Signs Of High Blood Pressure You Don’t Want To Ignore
7 Essential Tools Every Dentist Needs

Steps to Fall Proof a Home

Identifying hazards is an important step to fall-proof a home. Remove anything that may cause your loved one to fall, or make any minor changes at home to reduce the likelihood of a fall.

Here are a few things you can do:

Flooring

Slippery surfaces, loose floor coverings, and clutter are trip hazards. Seniors with vision problems may also trip if the flooring is uneven.

What to do:

  • Remove loose rugs or mats
  • Secure the carpets
  • Declutter — especially the stairways
  • Immediately dry wet floors

Lighting

Diabetics with eye complications or any senior with poor eyesight may trip or fall in dull or poor lighting. Proper lighting enables seniors to walk around freely without difficulty or discomfort.

What to do:

  • Avoid lights that create dark shadows, or bright lights that cause glare
  • Never let senior citizens change lightbulbs by themselves
  • Have a lamp or light beside your loved one’s beds
  • Consider having a night light in the stairs, bathroom, and hallways
  • Stairways and bathrooms should have handrails
  • Kitchen shelves should be easily accessible to your loved ones.

Additional tips to fall-proof a home

Always clear the walking paths, especially the hallways and the stairs. Make sure to remove items that are a trip or fall hazard. Always fix dripping faucets and showers, as wet floors are hazardous to seniors. It’s best to have non-slip mats, especially in the shower or on the bathroom floor.

An Active Lifestyle Helps

Prevention is always better than cure. Seniors who practice a healthy and active lifestyle have improved posture, health, coordination, and balance. If you have an aging parent or loved ones, help them stay active to improve their overall health. Walking can strengthen the muscles in their legs while stretching improves their balance. You may also want to consider yoga and tai chi for them, which are safe, no-impact exercises that improve muscle tone and flexibility. Talk to a professional who can develop physical activities for your loved ones. Along with these, make sure that they have regular eye check-ups for treating eye-related conditions. You may buy them well-fitting and high-quality shoes to avoid discomfort when walking. Staying active greatly helps. However, it’s also best for seniors to have a medical alert system. These are devices that send a signal to the right people when medical attention is needed. They come in different forms such as pendant-style, speakerphone or cellular medical alert systems. Some of these are also waterproof so your loved ones can wear them in the shower. One affordable medical alert system to consider is Bay Alarm Medical, which has flexible payment plans and no contract. Medical Alert Buyers Guide is a helpful resource listing the top-rated medical alert systems. These devices can save lives. Getting one for your loved one will give you peace of mind as you know help is just a push of a button away.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By James Wilson
James is a freelance writer and blogger. He loves to write on wellness, tech and E-Health.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

technology in medical research
The Tools Helping Medical Researchers See the Full Picture
News Technology
August 3, 2025
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025

You Might also Like

Don’t Regulate DTC Genetic Testing

April 27, 2011
car accidents and traumatic brain injuries
Specialties

Car Accident? Think Brain Injury!

September 9, 2013

How to Prevent COPD Exacerbations Without Medication

October 3, 2013
Wellness

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Probiotics Cure All!

October 25, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?